Smokies offers Mountains-to-Sea Trail hike and presentation

Folks interested in hiking a section of the Mountains to Sea Trail and learning a bit more about the storied path have a chance to chat with a MST guru in the Smokies Saturday, May 4.

Danny Bernstein, a hiking book author and master hiker, will lead a two-hour hike on a section of the trail through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and afterward give a talk about her adventures hiking the entire length the trail — from Clingmans Dome to the Outer Banks. Bernstein is one of the few to have hiked the fledging trail in its entirety.

The guided two-hour hike will begin at 10 a.m. at the Mingus Mill parking area and take the Mingus Creek Trail for nearly five miles. The route has an elevation gain of 800 feet and is mostly gentle. The Mingus Mill parking area is located on U.S. 441 about two miles north of Cherokee.

At 1 p.m., Bernstein will give a talk on the porch of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, sharing her adventures from hiking the entire 1,000 miles to the coast. She will discuss the highlights and challenges of hiking the entire trail as well as share pictures, maps and stories.